vague time

USAGE SUMMARY

"vague time" is a phrase that is used in written English and can be useful in particular contexts.
For example, you might write, "I had already spent some time aimlessly wandering around, but at this vague time of night, it was getting more and more uncomfortable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

A vague time frame?

The New York Times

This paper presents a framework for reasoning about qualitative and metric temporal relations between vague time periods.

Artificial Intelligence

The Bush administration has repeatedly rejected a timetable for withdrawing troops, agreeing only to a more vague "time frame".

The Guardian

I'd be visiting her at some vague time in the future, deliberately vague, for people like me, who realign past events to suit themselves.

The New Yorker

We know what the alternative is – we experience it on other sections of the network, not at some vague time in the past, but in the here and now, and we do not want to go back to that.

The Guardian

The urgency that brought those owners and the now-defunct National Basketball Players Association within a few minor system considerations of a deal is now gone, and in its place is a vague time line formed by a drop-dead date for cancellation of the entire season (likely in early January), a relatively slow-moving legal process, and the owners' whims.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

So Pynchon follows his nose, and invokes some expected players of this system – variously, cornball mafiosi, value-free dot-moguls, the jetsam of post-Soviet wars; never mind vaguely time-travelling CIA agents, or half-ghostly kidnapped children.

Independent

The iPhone 5s was reportedly sold out in retail locations quickly around the globe, and shipping times at online Apple Store websites also slipped quickly into vague October time frames.

TechCrunch

Tobis concedes "A couple of reviews do give some support to this, but are vague about time scales".

The Guardian

Over the two or three days — the movie is vague about time — they go on excursions paid for by the boy.

The New York Times

While no exact release date is given, we have the vague "January" time frame now, which is in line with what we've been hearing.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "vague time", consider providing additional context or qualifiers to avoid confusion. For example, instead of saying "at some vague time", specify "at some vague time in the near future".

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "vague time" if more specific information is available. If you have even a rough estimate, providing that is preferable to complete vagueness. Don't create ambiguity where none needs to exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vague time" functions as a modifier and noun combination, where "vague" is an adjective describing the noun "time". It expresses a lack of precision or certainty regarding a specific moment or period. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

20%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "vague time" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate uncertainty about timing. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is employed across different contexts, but is most frequently seen in News & Media. While useful for expressing a lack of specific knowledge about when something will occur, it's best practice to add context when possible and avoid over-reliance on it when more precise information exists. Alternatives such as "ambiguous timeframe" and "imprecise timing" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ambiguous timeframe

Highlights the unclear boundaries of the timeframe.

imprecise timing

Focuses on the lack of exactness in the timing.

loose schedule

Focuses on the flexibility and lack of strictness in the scheduling.

unspecified duration

Highlights the lack of defined length of time.

general period

Emphasizes the broadness and lack of specificity in the time period.

undefined moment

Emphasizes the lack of clarity regarding a particular point in time.

unfixed date

Indicates the date is not yet set and is subject to change.

inexact period

Points to the absence of precise limits of the period.

approximate date

Indicates a date that is not precisely known.

rough estimate of time

Suggests an educated guess rather than a precise measurement.

FAQs

How can I use "vague time" in a sentence?

You can use "vague time" to refer to an unspecified or uncertain period, as in "I plan to visit them at some "vague time" in the future".

What's a similar phrase to "vague time"?

Alternatives to "vague time" include "unspecified duration", "ambiguous timeframe", or "imprecise timing", which all convey a lack of specific detail.

Is it better to be specific or use "vague time"?

Whenever possible, specificity is preferred for clarity. However, "vague time" is appropriate when the exact timing is genuinely unknown or unimportant.

What does "vague time" imply about expectations?

"Vague time" suggests that there is no firm commitment to a specific date or deadline, implying flexibility and a lack of urgency.